When to switch datacenter provider?

The technology market is growing exponentially. Datacenters play a key role in this context. The increased use of technologies such as cloud storage, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) drive the demand for high-quality datacenters. Is your data centre provider really meeting your needs? Maybe it’s time to consider a new Colocation provider.

No matter what infrastructure model your company is adopting or plans to adopt – dedicated servers, hybrid, virtual, cloud, etc – choosing the right datacenter should be a top priority.

But how do you know the right time to change?

Well, unlike other services, the choice of Colocation provider goes far beyond simply price. Do you have special needs regarding efficiency, security, liquid cooling, federal level security, etc? If your datacenter provider cannot meet these requirements, it may be time to look for a new one.

There are multiple layers to consider.

Location – It may not seem like it, but the location of the datacenter makes all the difference in Colocation. Or, better yet, locations! For example, if your business chooses to store data in the datacenter, it’s a good idea for it (its physical structure) to be close to your business. This means that the company will be able to access the facility more quickly. Now, if your company aims to offer services to customers, an alternative is to choose diversified data centres, close to their locations. This way, it will offer better conditions, such as less latency, for example. In the end, it all depends on the objectives.

Quantity – Of course, you don’t need to own a huge network of data centres to provide a good service. However, the greater the number, the more resilient the infrastructure. For companies that need more robust systems, a multi datacenter is a valuable feature. Common issues of latency, stability, availability and even threats from natural disasters are barely felt.

Connectivity – The possibility of having a carrier neutral data centre is a great advantage. After all, it means that the Colocation provider is not tied to a single Telecommunications operator. Thus, your company can access different services that best fit your needs, with multiple options for connectivity and other services. It is a great option for those looking for a flexible data environment that enables safer and more guaranteed scalable growth.

Pacote de serviços – É importante saber se a empresa contratada oferece pacotes de serviços fechados, ou seja, sem escalabilidade. Isso porque, sua empresa pode passar por sazonalidade que demandem mais ou menos recursos e você de acordo com a época. Não mantenha uma infraestrutura ociosa, exceto se realmente faça parte de uma estratégia corporativa sólida.

Specialised and available technical support – Problems never arrive by appointment and having a helpful provider who is there when you need them most is the best option. Speed and efficiency 24x7x365 is what you should expect from a Colocation provider committed to your business goals. A provider worth trusting is the one that can provide you with this level of monitoring, with an on-site technical team always ready for any problem, ensuring a high technical level, transparent and agile support.

Consistent SLA – When hiring a Colocation provider, you need to pay attention to the Service Level Agreement (SLA) established. It will describe the provider’s commitments to your company, detailing, among other items, the uptime and availability it will provide. It is the SLA that should guide the partnership and should always be analysed to check that everything has been followed to the letter!

Credibility – Contact former and current customers to find out if the company is transparent in its processes, with data recovery policies in case of emergency and if it offers all security standards in its physical infrastructures.

Protection against natural disasters – Floods, storms, wind and lightning. All are very damaging to technology assets, and likely to occur around the world due to climate change. Therefore, ensure that your colocation provider has in place a strategic positioning that allows your company to have a Disaster Recovery environment, capable of protecting your systems, servers and data, thus ensuring business continuity.

The challenge for suppliers, therefore, is to deliver IT infrastructure to meet these needs. The customers’ challenge, in turn, is to ensure access to the best infrastructure at the lowest price. Always remember that characteristics such as location, space required, and power and connection sources impact cost. Proximity to large populations, related infrastructure, weather activity and even terrorist vulnerability are also determining factors of Colocation prices.

The ageing datacenter infrastructure that most businesses rely on today is neither efficient nor sufficient. It doesn’t have the power needed to process big data or store it. Your critical IT network infrastructure should enable your organization, not limit your business or ability to innovate.

Your organization needs an infrastructure that amplifies and protects the data it collects to break into new territories, gain competitive advantage or survive in the industry. Successful datacenter switching will enable your organization to increase productivity, efficiency, and agility.